Rates for audio translation Thread poster: Valérie Lapotre (X)
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Valérie Lapotre (X) 
France
Local time: 09:00
English to French
+ ...
Hi,
One client is asking me to provide a rate for audio translation. I have read on one of the forums that the best way to go about it is to ask the client for a sample of the audio file and calculate the amount of work/words involved per minute. However they cannot provide a sample as yet, only need a price from me to bid.
Any clue? Should I calculate an hourly fee + 50%?
Many thanks!!
Valerie
| | | | Maria Karra
United States
Local time: 03:00
Member (2000)
Greek to English
+ ...
| audio translation: two steps | Aug 25, 2009 |
Hi Valérie,
By audio translation I understand that you need to do 2 things:
1. Write down the text as you hear it, in the source language
2. Translate it.
In other words your client needs both transcription and translation. So I would charge for both services. For translation you'll charge your normal rate. For transcription you can charge per hour, but the total time really depends on the quality of the audio file; if the audio duration is one hour, it may ta... See more Hi Valérie,
By audio translation I understand that you need to do 2 things:
1. Write down the text as you hear it, in the source language
2. Translate it.
In other words your client needs both transcription and translation. So I would charge for both services. For translation you'll charge your normal rate. For transcription you can charge per hour, but the total time really depends on the quality of the audio file; if the audio duration is one hour, it may take you from 3 hours to 5 hours to transcribe it. Maybe you can give your client a range or an average price.
Maria ▲ Collapse
| | | | Valérie Lapotre (X)
France
Local time: 09:00
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Maria, it sounds like a very good idea ))
| | | | Md Abu Alam
Bangladesh
Local time: 13:00
Member (2009)
English to Bengali
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | charge of audio translation | Aug 25, 2009 |
I think- as the task involves both transcription and translation, you should charge summing the both. Further, I'd like to advise you to have the sample audio as it's very difficult to transcribe from a low quality audio source file. Besides, you should know the audio format for your flexibility of working, because someone may send files of an audio format which you can't open with your available audio players.
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Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 01:00
English to Spanish
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In memoriam | Transcribing | Aug 25, 2009 |
Yes, you do not want to charge any flat rate for transcribing. Three to five times run time can be very optimistic, and you do not know the quality of the recording. It could be terrible. Thus, you would charge by the hour.
A good alternative is not to do the transcribing yourself at all. If you can find a good transcriber, their time often costs a good bit less than a translator's time (your time), and they have the proper equipment for doing the job. Trying to do it without proper... See more Yes, you do not want to charge any flat rate for transcribing. Three to five times run time can be very optimistic, and you do not know the quality of the recording. It could be terrible. Thus, you would charge by the hour.
A good alternative is not to do the transcribing yourself at all. If you can find a good transcriber, their time often costs a good bit less than a translator's time (your time), and they have the proper equipment for doing the job. Trying to do it without proper equipment is like wading through mud. Plus if your hearing is not so good it can be difficult.
Those are my recommendations. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Abba Storgen (X)
United States
Local time: 02:00
Greek to English
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My fiancee is a professional transcriber and certified court reporter. 100-120 words per minute.
For the average subscription she received lately, it took her 5-6 hrs to transcribe it (with professional equipment, foot pedal etc).
Some files with duration of one hour contained 7-9 thousand words.
It also depends on how fast they talk, etc.
You do the math.
| | | | Valérie Lapotre (X)
France
Local time: 09:00
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Eleftherios Kritikakis wrote:
My fiancee is a professional transcriber and certified court reporter. 100-120 words per minute.
For the average subscription she received lately, it took her 5-6 hrs to transcribe it (with professional equipment, foot pedal etc).
Some files with duration of one hour contained 7-9 thousand words.
It also depends on how fast they talk, etc.
You do the math.
Very informative and impressive!! You're perfectly right when you say it depends on how fast they speak. I will need to send a quote but I will add that any extra time spent on the transcribing will be charged...
Thank you all for your very precious advice))
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Barbara Thomas
United States
Local time: 03:00
Spanish to English
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| Rates for audio translation | Aug 27, 2009 |
Thanks for posting your article.
I've had a number of unpleasant experiences with transcription with/without translation. Lately I've been referring clients to transcription services as a more economical option although I am always willing to proof the transcription at my hourly rate.
The problem has arisen with my transcription speed and hourly service rates. I'm not particularly fast and I don't have sophisticated equipment, which means that it takes me anywhere from... See more Thanks for posting your article.
I've had a number of unpleasant experiences with transcription with/without translation. Lately I've been referring clients to transcription services as a more economical option although I am always willing to proof the transcription at my hourly rate.
The problem has arisen with my transcription speed and hourly service rates. I'm not particularly fast and I don't have sophisticated equipment, which means that it takes me anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes to transcribe one minute of voice recording. Usually that comes out to about 8-15 euros a minute, which most clients understandably find horrendous.
I use professional transcribers myself, but because of the nature of the material that I receive (medical/pharmaceutical), I always have to proof it. Depending on the source language, the price still comes to 5-9 euros a minute. ▲ Collapse
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